GOLDEN TURMERIC

About GOLDEN TURMERIC

Golden Turmeric is an Indian restaurant on Williams Street in Kaiapoi, hosted and owned by Ekampreet & Pavneet. The concept centres on turmeric, described on the menu as the "Golden Spice of India," and the restaurant builds its food around authentic Indian recipes passed down over generations.

The kitchen serves fresh, home-cooked Indian food in what the owners describe as luxurious surroundings, drawing on a rich and diverse culinary tradition. Dishes are built from lean cuts of meat, freshly ground spices including turmeric, and hand-picked vegetables, finished in their own spicy aromatic sauces.

The menu spans tandoor-cooked entrées, sharing platters, chicken and lamb curries with a choice of spice level, and two set feast menus designed for two people or more. Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options are marked across the menu, and staff can advise on allergens on request.

Golden Turmeric is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Sunday, and offers online ordering as well as dine-in service.

Golden Turmeric, Kaiapoi: Authentic Indian Cooking Built Around the Golden Spice

On Williams Street in Kaiapoi, Golden Turmeric brings its concept back to a single ingredient: turmeric, which the restaurant calls the "Golden Spice of India." Hosted and owned by Ekampreet & Pavneet, the restaurant builds its menu around authentic Indian recipes that the owners say have been passed down over generations, served in what they describe as luxurious surroundings.

Turmeric isn't just a flavour choice here — the restaurant leans into its reputation as an anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting spice, and its dine-in menu lists a run of health claims associated with curcumin, turmeric's active compound, from antioxidant support to benefits for heart health and joint care. Whether or not every guest reads the fine print, it sets the tone for a menu that treats spice as craft rather than just heat.

From the Tandoor and the Kitchen

The entrée list is long and tandoor-heavy: Turmeric Chicken Tikka, Creamy Malai Tikka, Kasaundi Paneer Tikka, Lamb Tikka and Tandoori Prawns all come off the charcoal, alongside fried starters like Aloo Samosa, Cheese Pakora and Amritsari Fish Pakora. For the table, Golden Turmeric offers four sharing platters — Vegetarian, Mixed, Meat Sizzling and a Chef's Special that brings together crispy chicken, spinach and cheese samosa, squid bhaji, aloo chips and onion bhaji with house dips and garlic naan.

The GT Chef's Special section runs both entrée and main-size options, including standouts like Turmeric Methi Chicken simmered with fenugreek and cashews, Rajasthani Laal Maas, and Shahi Meat, a lamb dish from the royal state of Rajasthan finished in a creamy cashew sauce. On the curry side, chicken and lamb dishes both come with a choice of spice level from mild to extra hot, spanning familiar names like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Rogan Josh through to Chicken Madras, Kadai Murg and Lamb Saagwala.

Vegetarian, Vegan and Set Menu Options

The menu marks vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free dishes throughout, and staff can advise on allergens for any dish. For vegetarians, options range from Malai Paneer and Turmeric Kofta to Kasundi Malai Broccoli and Crispy Chilly Cauliflower.

Groups can also order one of two set feasts. The Golden Feast, for a minimum of two people, works through papdi chaat, a starter selection of cheese pakora, onion and spinach bhaji, turmeric chicken tikka and tandoori prawns, a choice of main curry served with turmeric cumin rice and butter naan, and a dessert of chocolate naan or gulab jamun with ice cream. The Green Feast follows the same shape as a vegetarian menu, from masala poppadom starters through to a scoop of mango sorbet to finish.

Visiting Golden Turmeric

Golden Turmeric is open for lunch from 11:30am to 2pm and dinner from 4:30pm to 9pm, and is closed on Mondays. The restaurant takes online orders as well as dine-in bookings, and can be reached by phone or email for enquiries. For anyone in Kaiapoi after a proper sit-down Indian meal — or a platter to share — the menu's range, from tandoor starters through to the two set feasts, gives a good spread of what the kitchen does best.

Signature items

• Butter Chicken
• Turmeric Chicken Tikka
• Chef's Special Platter
• Lamb Rogan Josh
• The Golden Feast
• Mango Lassi

Menu

EntréEs

• Onion & Spinach Bhaji — Sliced onion with fresh herbs, turmeric and chickpea flour, deep fried, served with chutney
• Aloo Samosa — Mashed potatoes, peas, cumin, turmeric and coriander in a crispy homemade pastry
• Cheese Pakora — Cottage cheese layered with spinach and mozzarella, dipped in chickpea batter
• Golden Fried Chicken — Chicken chunks in a homemade spice mix and crispy batter, deep fried, served with tandoori mayo
• Wah Wah Wings — Wings coated in homemade spice mix, dipped in crispy batter and deep fried
• Cheese Chilly — Cottage cheese cubes tossed with onion, capsicum and homemade chilli sauce
• Chicken Chilly — Chicken cubes tossed with onion, capsicum and homemade chilli sauce
• Amritsari Fish Pakora — Fish of the day marinated with ginger, garlic, Indian spices and carrom seeds, in crispy chickpea batter
• Creamy Malai Tikka — Boneless chicken marinated in cream, cheese and Indian herbs, cooked in tandoor with butter coating
• Tandoori Chicken — Bone-in chicken marinated overnight in yoghurt and spice mix, roasted over charcoal
• Kasaundi Paneer Tikka — Homemade cottage cheese in turmeric-yoghurt marinade, skewered in tandoor with onions and peppers
• Mushroom Tikka — Mushrooms in yoghurt and Indian herb marinade, skewered in tandoor with onions and peppers
• Lamb Tikka — Lamb tenderloin marinated in yoghurt, garlic, ginger, herbs and spices, roasted in tandoor
• Bareilly Ke Kebab — Lamb mince flavoured with garlic, herbs and spices, skewered over charcoal
• Tandoori Prawns — Prawn cutlets marinated in yoghurt and turmeric, skewered in tandoor, drizzled with ghee

Set Menus

• The Golden Feast — Min 2 people: papdi chaat, mixed starters, choice of main curry, rice, naan and dessert
• The Green Feast — Min 2 people, vegetarian: masala poppadom, vegetarian starters, choice of veg main, rice, naan and mango sorbet

GT Platters

• Vegetarian Platter — Onion bhaji, aloo samosa, paneer tikka, mushroom tikka
• Mixed Platter — Onion bhaji, spinach & cheese samosa, malai chicken tikka, lamb kebab
• Meat Sizzling Platter — Tandoori chicken, lamb chops, chicken tikka, tandoori prawn
• Chef's Special Platter — Crispy chicken, spinach and cheese samosa, squid bhaji, aloo chips, onion bhaji with house dips and garlic naan

Lamb Curries

• Lamb Bhuna Masala — Lamb sautéed with ginger, garlic, onion, crushed tomatoes, spices and coriander
• Lamb Punjabi — Diced lamb in cashew gravy with onion and tomato masala, spices, butter and coriander
• Lamb Jalfrazee — Lamb in tomato gravy with capsicums, onions, herbs and coconut cream
• Lamb Kadai — Lamb with crushed tomatoes, sliced onions, capsicums, cashew gravy and coriander
• Lamb Rogan Josh — Kashmiri-origin curry, slow cooked with aromatic herbs and spices
• Lamb Korma — Lamb in cashew gravy with mild spices, fenugreek, finished with cream
• Lamb Saagwala — Lamb in spinach gravy with onions, crushed tomatoes, ginger, garlic, spices and cream

Sides & Drinks

• Mango Lassi — Creamy yogurt blended with sweet mango pulp, cardamom and a hint of sugar
• Mint Chutney — Homemade yogurt and mint chutney with secret herbs and spices
• Poppadoms — Chickpea flour crackers
• Cheese and Garlic Naan — Naan stuffed with mozzarella cheese and garlic, with butter on top
• Coke/Sprite/Fanta 330ml — Soft drink

Chicken Curries

• Chicken Korma — Chicken cubes in cashew gravy with mild spices, finished with cream
• Chicken Punjabi — Cashew gravy with onion and tomato masala, freshly ground spices and coriander
• Murg Posto — Sliced chicken cooked with poppy seeds, garlic, onion, tomatoes and cream
• Chicken Vindaloo — Chicken in a tangy, spicy sauce with freshly sliced capsicums
• Chicken Tikka Masala — Chicken tikka in onion and tomato masala, ginger, garlic, finished with cream
• Chicken Jalfrazee — Chicken in tomato gravy with capsicums, onions and coconut cream
• Kadai Murg — Chicken with crushed tomatoes, sliced onions, capsicums, cashew gravy and coriander
• Chicken Madras — South Indian style chicken in onion-tomato masala with shredded coconut and curry leaves
• Chicken Saagwala — Chicken in spinach gravy with onions, crushed tomatoes, ginger, garlic and cream
• Tawa Chicken — Delhi-style chicken with fenugreek and cream, onion and tomato masala, finished with ghee
• Chicken Bhuna Masala — Indian stir-fry chicken with ginger, garlic, onions and capsicums, topped with coriander
• Butter Chicken — Classic Indian favourite

From The Tandoor

• Chicken Tikka — Boneless chicken marinated in yoghurt, Indian herbs and spices, cooked in tandoor, served with mint chutney and salad

GT Chef'S Special

• Spinach & Cheese Samosa — Grated cottage cheese, spinach and mozzarella in a crispy homemade pastry
• Kasundi Malai Broccoli — Broccoli in turmeric marination, skewered in tandoor with onions and bell peppers
• Turmeric Chicken Tikka — Chicken marinated overnight in secret Indian spices, grilled in charcoal tandoor
• Turmeric Lamb Chops — Lamb cutlets marinated with yoghurt, ginger, garlic and herbs, cooked in charcoal tandoor
• Crispy Chilly Cauliflower — Battered, deep-fried cauliflower tossed in sweet and spicy sauce, topped with sesame seeds
• Chilli Garlic Prawn — Prawn cutlets sautéed with ginger, garlic, onions, bell pepper in sweet and spicy sauce
• Squid Bhaji — Squid coated in garlic spice mix and crispy batter, deep fried, served with tandoori mayo
• Turmeric Kofta — Cottage cheese and potato kofta in onion, tomato and cashew gravy, served with saffron rice and paratha
• Malai Paneer — Homemade cottage cheese simmered in cashew sauce with herbs and spices
• Tandoori Chicken (Main) — Tandoor-roasted half chicken with salad, cashew & butter sauce and cheesy garlic naan
• Turmeric Methi Chicken — Turmeric chicken simmered with fenugreek, onion, tomato, ginger, cashews and cream
• Chicken Kali Mirch — Chicken in creamy cashew sauce with black pepper and herbs, finished with ghee
• Rajasthani Laal Maas — Spicy curry with chilly, tomatoes, onion, coriander and secret herbs and spices
• Lamb Mintwala — Turmeric and mint marinated lamb with onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, topped with cream
• Shahi Meat — Classic Rajasthani lamb dish simmered in creamy cashew sauce with pepper and spices
• Methi Matar Mushroom — Mushroom and peas cooked with fenugreek, ginger and garlic in cashew gravy

Frequently asked questions

Where is Golden Turmeric located?

3/61 Williams Street, Kaiapoi 7630.

What are Golden Turmeric's opening hours?

Lunch 11:30am to 2pm and dinner 4:30pm to 9pm, closed on Mondays.

Does Golden Turmeric offer vegan or gluten-free options?

Yes, the menu marks vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free dishes, and staff can advise on allergens.

Can I order online from Golden Turmeric?

Yes, the restaurant offers online ordering through its website alongside dine-in service.

Does Golden Turmeric have set menus for groups?

Yes, The Golden Feast and The Green Feast are both set menus for a minimum of two people, running from starters through to dessert.

What cuisine does Golden Turmeric serve?

Authentic Indian food built around tandoor dishes, curries and sharing platters, with a focus on turmeric.

How do I contact Golden Turmeric?

By phone on 03 327 8800 or email [email protected].

Tips

• {"body":"A mix of crispy chicken, samosa, squid bhaji, aloo chips and onion bhaji with house dips.","title":"Try the Chef's Special Platter"}
• {"body":"Chicken and lamb curries come mild, medium, hot or extra hot.","title":"Choose your own spice level"}
• {"body":"The Golden Feast or Green Feast covers starters to dessert for two or more people.","title":"Order the set feast for a group"}
• {"body":"Golden Turmeric serves lunch 11:30am–2pm and dinner 4:30pm–9pm, and is closed Mondays.","title":"Book around the lunch/dinner split"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options marked on the menu; ask staff about allergens."}